Rail-joint.



H. F. ao' cu RAIL JOINT. APRU CAIION FILED JUNE 23, 1916. 1,258,249. Patented Mar. 5,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET-l- H E ROACH..

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED sum: 23. me.

HARRY P 30mm, or s'r. LOUIS, MI'ssoURI.-

.' RAIL-JOINT.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented'Mar. 5, 1918;

Application filed June 23, 1916. Serial No. 105,349.

i '1 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. RoAoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description,such'as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to rail joints of the type that comprises angle bars, fish plates or similar splice members arranged on opposite sides of thewehs of the abutting rails in engagement with the base flanges and the heads of the rails. 1

bers are so designed that they impart considerable additional stiffness to the portions of the rails theyembrace. These hard spots or abnormally stiff portions of the track, not only result in breakage of the-rails within the rail joints or at the ends of the joints, due to a heavy load passing from a portion ofa rail that has a certaln degree of stiffness onto a portion of the rail that is reinforced and stiffened-by the joint members that engage the head and base flange of same, but they also prevent the natural wave motion of the rail passing uniformly through the. joints of the track, due, of course, to the variation .in stiffness in the terminal portions of the rails and the intermediate portions of the rails. Furthermore, this variation in stiffness above referred to causes the jointmembers to be subjected to veatical bending strains intermediate their en s.

One object ofmy invention is to provide a rail joint.that issimilar to rail joints of the general, type above discussed, in that it comprises members arranged on opposite sides of the=webs of the rail in engagement with theheads and base flanges of the rails, but whlch is so constructed that the wave motion of the rails throughout the track is continued uniformly through the joints of the track.. Other objects of my invention are, to provide a rail joint of the character just referred to, which is so designed that it minimizes the vertical bending moment at the center portion of ,the joint to a negligible degree and-causes the center port bn of the joint to be'brought into structural shear. ,resistance; it eliminates the tendency of the rails to break, due to excessive variations in stiflness inthe terminal portionsand the inteigpediate portions of the rails, and it overco' es the necessity of accurately spacing the track ties.

To this end I have devised a rail joint, which, in its] simplest form, comprises two members arranged on opposite sides of the webs of two abutting rails and provided intermediate their ends with means that bears against the undersides of the heads and against the upper sides of the base flanges of the rails, the end portions of said members being spaced away from the heads and from the base flanges of the rails, so-as to permit the rails to move vertically at the ends of the joint under load, both upwardly and downwardly. The joint can either-j be ,positioned over a tie or between two tres'fi8o and when it is .positioned'over, a tie, the

rails can eitherbe supported by an ordinary .tie plate or by a tie plate of the design her-e inafter described. which is so constructed that it reduces the impact on the tie-and also reduces the tendency of the'tie to rock or roll. The joint members may be of any preferred shape in cross section and may either be cast, rolled or forged or formed:

Fig. 5 is a view partly in vertical cross section and end elevation of the rail joint shown in Fig. I v I Fig. 6 is'a perspective view of theftie-f plate of the joint shown in Figs. 4 and Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, i'llustrat ing another form of my invention. r

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view. illustrating still another form of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, A designates two members that'are arranged on opposite sides of the vertical webs of two abutting rails B, and C and C designate bolts or other suitable fastening devices that pass transversely through said members and through .the webs of the rails. Each of the members A is provided intermediate its ends with means 1 and 2 that bear against the undersides of the heads 3 of the rails and against the upper sides ofthe base flanges 4 of the railsyrespectively, said means 1 and 2 preferably consisting of integral portions on the upper and lower edges of each of the members A that extend a short distance on each side of the space between the ends of j the rails. The end portions of each of the members A are spacedajvay from the heads and from the base flanges of the rails, as

shown in Fig. 1, and the holes in the webs of the rails through which the end bolts C pass are made slightly larger than said bolts, so as to permit the rails B to deflect. slightly and also move vertically at the ends of the joint under load. By constructing the joint members in this manner I obtain "practically a hinge connection. between the terminals of the rails and the center portion ofthe joint without the use of a base plate or supporting structure under the base flanges of the rails. When the jointais in service the load imposed on one rail by a wheel traveling over the-same will betransmitted to the center portion of the joint through the end of the rail, thus bringing the members A into shear resistance at the center of the joint. When the load passes'from said rail onto the adjacent rail, the load will be transmitted through the end portion of the latter to the center portion of the members A in exactly the samemanner just described. It will thus be seen that in a rail joint of the construction herein illustrated the vertical bending moment of the members A at the center of the joint is reduced to a negligible degree, so that it is not necessary to consider the bendin moment as afactor in designing a joint or the particular work that it -is required to do. The hinge connection between the rails and the joint members A- eliminates hard spots in'the track and prevents reverse strains frombeing created in the joint, as such a connection permits the wave motion of the rails to pass through the joint uninterrupted. Furthermore, such a joint can be made as stiff as desired without danger'off'causing-the rails to break,

" owing to'the factthat'itdoesnot add materially to the stiffness of the portions of the rails which it embraces. My improved rail joint is not only superior to splice type rail joints in the respects previously pointed out, but it can be made much lighter Without decreasing the efficiency of the joint or sacrificing strength, on account of the fact that the oint members are of such design that the center portions of the same are subjected to vertical shearing'strains instead of vertical bending strains when the joint is in service. The length or area of the portions 1 and2 of the members A can be varied, so long as the .end portions of said members are spaced far enough away from'the undersides of the heads of the rails andfrom the upper sides of the base flanges of the"1'ails to permit/the rails to move vertically'at the ends of the joint, upwardly and downwardly, under load.

As previously stated, the members A may be of anypreferred cross-sectional shape and may be formed in various ways without departing from the spirit o'f my invention.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig.- 1 of the drawings each oft-he mem here A consists of a castingfand in the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3

bar of substantially D shape in crosssection, whose center portion snugly engages the heads and base flanges of the rails and whose end portions are of less depth or height than the members A each consist of a D-bar, or

the vertical distance between the heads and base flanges of the rails, so that they will not bear against the same. In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4: and 5 the members A consist of castings that are substantially angle-shaped in cross section, and inthe form of my invention illustratedin Figs. 7, 8 and 9 each of the members A is formed from an 'angle'bar of=the kind now used extensively in railway'track structures, but havin its end portions 5 deformed either by s earing,.framing, or in any other suitable manner, so that they will not bear against the undersidesf of the heads and against the upper sides of the base-flanges of the rails at the ends of the joint.

The joint is refmmy provided with means that prevents the members A fron'nlZO being arranged unparallel to the rails during the operation of tightening the end bolts 0 of the joint. In the :Eo'r'm of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 said ineansiconsists ward movement of. the end portions of the members A toward the rails during the operation of tightening the bolts that secure themembers A and the rails together. In

the form of my inventionillustrated in Fig.

3 the end portions of the members A are bent inwardly at 6, so that they will bear against the webs of the rails during the op-. eration of tightening the end bolts C, and thus limit the inward movement of the end portions of the members A; Asimilar construction is illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, which illustrates a rail joint constructed in accordance -with my invention and formed from angle bars whose end portions have been deformed or shaped in the manner previously described, and in Fig. 8 of the drawings I have illustrated still 'another modification, wherein washers or spacing de- 'VICBS G are arranged between the webs of the. rails and'the members A at the ends' of the joint, so as to limit the inward movement of the end portions of the members A relatively to the rails.

, By eliminating a base plate or supporting element for the base flanges of the rails, l overcome-the necessity of accurately spacing the track ties, as my improved joint is just as efiicient when positioned between two ties In cases as when positioned above a tie. where thejoint is positioned above a tie I prefer to use a tie plate C of the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, although -it is not essential that a tie plate of this par ticular form be used. The tie plate shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is provided intermediate its ends, preferably at approximately its center, with a flat surface 7 on which the end portions of the'baseflanges of the rails rest,

the remaining portioii 7 of the top face of said tie plate being inclined downwardly from the rail-supporting surface 7, so as to prevent the base flanges of the rails from normally resting on the end portions of the tie plate, but still permit the rails to deflect vertically at the ends of the joint under load. A tie plate of the construction described reduces the amount of work that the joint is called upon to perform, owing to.

the fact that the point of revolution is a short distance from the ends of the rails;

it comprises a flat supporting surface of.

the ends of each of said members that bears against the undersides of the heads and against the upper sides of the base flanges of the rails.

2. A rail joint, comprisingcoiiperating members spacedapart to receive ab tti g rails and provided with means lying in different horizontal planes than the end portionsot said members that bear against the unders'ides-ofthe heads and against the upper sides of the base flanges of therails'.

3. A rail joint, comprising two'members arranged on opposite sides of the webs of the rails and provided intermediate their ends with means that coiipera-tes with the heads and with the base flanges of the rails'to form substantially a hinge connection between the rails and the center portion of the joint,

said members being so formed andcombinedwith the rails that the rails. can move verti-'- cally slightly, both up and down, relatively to the end portions of said members under load. a

4'. A rail joint, comprising two members arranged on opposite sides of the webs of.

the rails in engagement with the heads and with the base flanges of the;terminalpor-v tions of the rails, said members being so constructed and combined with the rails' thatthe rails can move vertically both up and down relatively to said members sufliciently at the ends of the joint under load to permit the wave motion of the rails to pass through 4 the joint. I

5. A-rail joint, comprising two members arranged on opposite sides of the webs of the rails with their end portions spaced away from the heads and the base flanges of the rails and their intermediate portions bearing against said heads and base flanges. 6.. A rail joint, comprising two members arranged'on opposite sides of the webs of two abutting rails above the base flanges of the same and designed in such'a manner that they support and connect the terminals of therails together, "but still permit'the rails to move vertically, both up and ,down, relatively to said members at the ends of the joint when the railsrare under load. i

7. A rail joint member adapted to be arranged on one side of abuttingrails and'having its end portions so formed that they do "not engage the unders'ides of the heads and the upper sides of the base flanges of said rails at the ends of said member, and bearing portions on Send member on which the terminals of the rails can exert pressure when the rails are under load.

8. A rail oint, comprlsmg abutting rails and provided with portions lying above the base flanges of the rails on which the terminal portions of the rails fulcrum when said rails are under load, said two members arranged on opposite sides of the webs ofmembers being so designed that they dollot interfere with the vertical movement of the rails, both up and down, relatively to said members at the ends of the joint when the rails fulcrum on said members.

9. A rail oint, comprising members ar-' ranged on opposite sidcsof the webs of abutting rails and having their end portions so formed that the rails can move vertically at the ends of the oint relatively to said members when said rails are under load, means"- on said members intermediate the ends of the same that bear against the undersides of the heads and against the upper sides of the base flanges of the rails so asto'support' or sustain the terminal portions of the rails, and means arranged adjacent the ends of said members that are adapted-to cotiperate with the rails tohold said members in para]- lel relation to the rails when the end bolts of the joint are being tightened.

10. A rail joint, comprising members arranged on opposite sides of the webs of abutting rails and having portions that bear under the headsof the rail and over the base flanges of the rail, the length of said portions being lcssthan the distance betweenthe end bolts of the joint.

11'. A railjoint, comprising members arranged on opposite sides of the webs of abutting rails and provided intermediate their ends with portions that bear under'the heads of the rails and over the flanges of the rails the end portions of said members being spaced away from said heads and flanges,- and means for preventing said memhers from being drawn out of parallel rela provided intermediate its ends with a surat face on which the terminal portions of the rails rest and having its end portions normally spaced away from the base flanges of the rails, members separate and distinct from said tie plate arranged on opposite sides of the rails with their end portions spaced away from the heads and the base flanges of the rails, and bearing portions on said members intermediate the ends of the same that bear snugly against the undersides of the heads andagainst the upper sides of the base flanges of the'rails.

14. A railjoint, comprising two members arranged on opposite sides of the webs of abut-ting rails and provided intermediatetheir ends with portions that cooperate with the heads and with the base flanges of the rails to form practically hinge connections between the rails and -the center portions of said members which permits the rails to move slightly vertically with relation to the end portions of said members when the rails are under load, and a tie plate having no directconnection with said members and provided intermediate its ends with a flat bearing surface for the base flanges of the rails and end portions that are normally spaced away from the under-sides of said base flanges. V 4

15; A rail joint, comprising two members arranged on opposite sides} of the webs of abutting rails and provided?intermediate their ends with portions that coiiperate with the heads and with the base flanges of the rails to form practically hinge connections between the rails and the center portions of said members, means arrangedadjaccnt the ends of said members that coiiperate with the webs of the rails to limit the inward movement of the end portions of said members toward the rails, and'a tie plate hav-' mg no direct connection with said members and provided intermediate itsends with a flat bearing surface for the basefianges of the-rails and end portions'uthat' are normally spaced away from the undersides of said base flanges. V V

HARRY F. ROACH. 

